During the 1700s and early 1800s, both French and English traders brought silver ornaments to trade with Indians. They brought brooches, earrings, earwheels, gorgets, bracelets and arm bands. And the Jesuits brought brass and silver trade rings to pass out to their hoped for converts. Jan and his daughter Kalil reproduce an array of these Eastern Woodland and Great Lakes silver trade items. Most pieces can be made from sterling, German silver, or brass. Many of these items are available, but if not, orders are welcome and should not take more than four weeks. A complete trade silver catalog is available in paper form at this time, while we work to make it accessible on line or by disc.

Jesuit rings

Traditional earrings

Traditional earrings

Traditional earrings

Traditional earrings

Traditional earrings

Traditional earrings

Historical reenactor displaying our trade silver, dressed in the style of midwestern native americans during the late 18th or early 19th centuries.

Historical reenactor displaying our trade silver, dressed in the style of midwestern native americans during the late 18th or early 19th centuries.

Broad bands of silver, one band joining the other, tapering from head downward for plated hair piece

Hair ornaments

Two sterling engraved gorgets, known as moon gorgets. These were some of the earliest trade silver items, made to take the place of shell gorgets.